Parachute and the like.



B. W. COMPTON. PARAGHUTE AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1911.

" 1,033,155. Patentedfluly 23,1912,

ww I 7 .B Comjqtom swam Mex BESSIE W. COMPTON, or nAYWooD, TEXAS.-

PARAGHU'IE AND THE LIKE.

Application filed August 12, 1911; SerialiNo. 643,723;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bnssrn \V. COMPTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Haywood, in the county of Liberty and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Parachutes and the Like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to parachutes and the like and has for its object to provide a parachute with means which will ass'istin opening and causing it to descend in, a desired manner through the air. y

A further object is to have the parachute arranged so that it can be readily folded up so as to occupy a comparativelysmall amount of space when not in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide it with means which will cause it to open readily when actuated by the operator.'

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as it is more fully set forth.

The most apparent disadvantage of parachutes now used is the uncertainty of their opening properly together with the difficulty ofkeeping the same properly poised in the air while descending therethrough. This invention avoids these difiiculties by having means provided which positively opens the parachute when the operator descends with itin the usual manner, and serves to provide a buoyant means therein which enables the parachute to descend slowly even if acted upon by Winds, and thereby serves as a safe means to be used by occupants of high buildings, aviators, and others who are apt tohave need of a safe life saving device of this nature. y

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates byway of example the embodiment of this invention,,the figure represents a View in sectional elevation of a parachute embodying this invention.

In the construction shown in the drawings 1 represents a stem or handle which has slidably disposed upon it a sleeve 2 which has a number'of braces 3 pivotally secured there-- to. These braces are arranged to engage with ribs 4 pivotaliy secured to the upper portion of the stem in a manner clearly shown in the drawings, and which are extended outwardly in umbrella fashion when the braces are disposed in the slanting position shown. these braces are formed into rings 4 so as The lower end portions of to form-a suitable means for receiving the means which are attached to guide wires 8 which serve to hold the ribs inwardly to the stem in a manner clearly shown in the drawing. v a

' Secured to the ribs in any suitable manner is a covering 5 of flexible material which serves as the body proper for the parachute.

J The upper portion of this covering is provided. with a plurality of holes 7 therein which permit the air to flow therethrough into a bag 6 formed on the upper portion of the-parachute. This bag is preferablymade of similar material to that used for the cov ering of the ribs and is arranged sothat its side portions are in line with the-points on the ribs at which the braces are secured, so that when the bag is filled with air and tends to open out it will pull on the ribs, andincidentally on the braces 3, which will assist "in the opening action of the parachute, and place part of the strain on the braces 3,-

rather than have all the same on the ribs 4. The lower portion of-the handle or stem 1 is provided with a ring or other suitable means 10' which an operator can utilize when he desires to use the parachute.

In operation, the sleeve '2 is raised upwardly in a manner similar to that used in the opening of umbrellas, and until it passes 1 a catch i mounted on the stem 1 for the purpose of holding the sleeve securely in its upper position. When the parachute is used in a descent the air flows through the holes 7 into the bag6 secured on the upper portion thereof, which will open the same and serve to make'it of a balloon shape, which will serve to provide a buoyant means for the parachute whether the same descends properly through the air or not, for the air can hardly escape after once filling the same unless the parachute should be closed.

The 'quicker the parachute descends through the air more pressure will be excrted on the body of the parachute, which will tend to open it wider and thereby cause it to descend slower. At the same time the air bag 6 will; increase slightly and serve to give a larger balloon surface and thereby make the parachute more buoyant.

Many of the details of construction of this device may be similar to that used in umbrellas so that no further reference will be necessary to explain the exact opening and closing action of this device. Obviously While there is shown but one form ofthis device, it is not desired to limit it in any Way otherwise than necessitated by the priorart as many modifications in the construction of this invention may be made Without departing from the principles thereof.

Having thus described the invention What is claimed is sleeveslidably mounted on said stem, a plurality of braces attached tosaid sleeve, a plurality of ribs pivotally secured'to the {upper portion of said stem and having por-- tions secured to said braces, a covering disposed on said ribs having a plurality of holes therein, said holes being spaced apart from one anothe'n a bag disposed on and attached to said covering and arranged to receive air through said holes and be filled thereby, said bag having its attaching portion secured to that portion of the covering adjacent to the joining points of said braces and ribs, means secured to the lower portions of said ribs for limiting the outward movement thereof, and means for locking said braces and ribs inflan open position.

:2. A parachute comprising a stem, asleeve slidably mounted on said stem, a p i'urality of braces attached to said sleeve; a plurality of ribs pivotally secured to the upper portion a of said stern and having portions secured to vsaid braces, a covering disposed on said ribs havinga plurality of holes therein, said "holes beingspaced apart from one another, a

1. A parachute comprising a stem, a jzbag disposed on and attached to said cover-- mg and arranged to receive air through said 'holes and be filled thereby, said bag having "its attaching portion secured to that portion of the covering adjacent to-thdjoininir points of said braces and r 1bs,-another sleeve slidably mounted 'on said stem and 'cords attached to said last mentionedsleevc and the lower'portion of said ribs so as to limit the outward movement thereof and means for locking said braces and ribs in an open position.

.In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two-Witnesses.

Bnssin W. COMPTON. Witnesses 7 C. C. CAnsoN, E. M. MoGoWAN. 

